Vacuum cleaner construction

ABSTRACT

A vacuum cleaner having a longitudinally extending nozzle pivotally mounted on a movable carriage. An annular fan housing is mounted on the carriage containing a fan driven by an engine for developing an air flow through the nozzle and fan housing. A tangentially-disposed fan housing discharge or exhaust port communicates with a bag which is suspended from a handle mounted on the rear of the carriage to receive and store debris collected by the nozzle. The engine is mounted on the carriage at one side of the fan housing and the engine shaft extends laterally of the carriage into the fan housing, and the fan is mounted on the shaft within the housing. The exhaust end of the nozzle is pivotally mounted on a vertical carriage bracket and on the other side of the fan housing for limited pivotal movement vertically about a laterally extending axis. The front or inlet end of the nozzle is roller supported by a pair of wheels. A roller is pivotally mounted on the front end of the carriage beneath the nozzle and is actuated by a lever mounted on the handle for controlling the vertical position of the nozzle inlet end and opening with respect to a surface being cleaned. A selfpropelling driving mechanism engageable with the rear carriage wheels may be incorporated in the cleaner construction.

United States Patent [191 Rinker June 4, 1974 VACUUM CLEANERCONSTRUCTION Carl G. Rinker, Atwater, Ohio [73] Assignee: Atwater StrongCo., Inc., Atwater,

Portage, Ohio [22] Filed: Aug. 17, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 281,293

[75] lnventor:

[52] US. Cl 15/347, 15/337, 15/359 Primary Examiner-Harvey C. HornsbyAssistant Examiner-C. K. Moore Atwrney, Agent, or Firm-Frease & Bishop[57] ABSTRACT A vacuum cleaner having a longitudinally extending nozzlepivotally mounted on a movable carriage. An annular fan housing ismounted on the carriage containing a fan driven by an engine fordeveloping an air flow through the nozzle and fan housing. Atangentially-disposed fan housing discharge or exhaust port communicateswith a bag which is suspended from a handle mounted on the rear of thecarriage to receive and store debris collected by the nozzle. The engineis mounted on the carriage at one side of the fan housing and the engineshaft extends laterally of the carriage into the fan housing, and thefan is mounted on the shaft within the housing. The exhaust end of thenozzle is pivotally mounted on a vertical carriage bracket and on theother side of the fan housing for limited pivotal movement verticallyabout a laterally extending axis. The front or inlet end of the nozzleis roller supported by a pair of wheels. A roller is pivotally mountedon the front end of the carriage beneath the nozzle and is actuated by alever mounted on the handle for controlling the vertical position of thenozzle inlet end and opening with respect to a surface being cleaned. Aself-propelling driving mechanism engageable with the rear carriagewheels may be incorporated in the cleaner construction.

10 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures VACUUM CLEANER CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The invention relates to vacuumcleaners and in particular to large, wheeled type vacuum cleaners forgathering debris from lawns, and for use at commercial and industrialsites. More particularly, the invention relates to a vacuum cleanerconstruction having a pivotally mounted nozzle for vertically adjustingthe location of the nozzle mouth with respect to the surface beingcleaned.

2. Description of the Prior Art Large vacuum cleaners of thewheeled-type have had various constructions, nozzle configurations andmounting arrangements, and attachments for picking up debris such asgrass clippings, leaves, twigs, etc. from lawns, and for picking uppaper, cans bottles, dirt, etc. from commercial and industrial sites.Examples of prior cleaner constructions intended for such cleaningoperations are shown in US. Pat. Nos. 2,824,335, 2,918,694, 3,089,178,3,112,511, 3,126,571, 3,328 316,. .3. t21aa2a aatsafi t M Most knownvacuum cleaners of this type do not provide means for readily adjustingthe location of the nozzle mouth from the ground being cleaned except bypivoting the entire cleaner on its rear wheels to raise the nozzlemouth. Such adjustment is difficult due to the weight of the cleaners.Some cleaners, such as shown in US. Pat. Nos. 3,089,178 and 3,491,399have pivotally mounted flaps or doors on the front of the nozzle toenable large sized debris and objects to be readily drawn into thenozzle. Such doors, however, do not permit the cleaner nozzle to passover large objects, such as rocks, which are not intended to be pickedup.

The debric picked up by most prior cleaners must pass through numerousbends and flexible hose before being discharged into a debris collector.Such bends and hose are susceptible to plugging when collected debrisbecomes lodged in the bend areas.

Prior cleaner nozzles usually are rigidly mounted on a cleaner frame orcarriage, and wheels support the carriage for movement across an area tobe cleaned. Such arrangements are suitable for level surface use, butwhen used out of doors on uneven ground, the nozzle must follow the pathof the cleaner carriage. Thus, the nozzle rises or falls as the carriagewheelsmove over bumps on and depressions in the ground. This results inchanging location of the nozzle mouth with respect to the ground, whichaffects the suction efficiency.

Even in those cleaner constructions having a nozzle mounted on aseparate pair of wheels, varying suction is experienced since themovement of the cleaner carriage still changes the location of thenozzle mouth with respect to the ground due to the nozzle being rigidlymounted on the carriage.

Another known means of adjusting the nozzle location with respect to theground is by manual movement of nozzle mounting bolts, such as shown inPat. Nos. 2,824,335 and 3,358,316. Such adjustment is time consuming,and once adjusted, the nozzle remains in the adjusted position, untilthe operator stops the machine and manually readjusts the mountingbolts.

Known cleaners have no means for conveniently connecting a flexible hoseto the cleaner for reaching areas inaccessible to the nozzle, such asbehind shrubbery, under work benches, etc. Known connection meansrequire removal of bolted plates, baffles, etc. on the cleaner, and thesubsequent installation of other plates, baffles, etc. to connect thehose to the cleaner and to divert the suction air through the connectedhose.

Another problem existing with known cleaners is that the cleaner enginewhich drives the fan blade to provide suction, usually is mountedcentrally of the cleaner and has either a horizontally longitudinallyextending fan shaft or a vertically extending fan shaft. The engine insuch arrangements is mounted adjacent the collection bag, which usuallyis formed of a porous material, thereby permitting dust laden air aroundthe bag to be drawn into the engine cooling means. This results in ahotter running, less efficient, and shorter lived engine, than if cleancooling air is drawn into the engine.

Such engine shaft arrangements in prior vacuum cleaners, requireadditional mechanism for connecting the power train mechanisms betweentheengine shaft and the cleaner carriage axle for self-propelling means,then that required where the engine shaft extends horizontally laterallyand parallel with the cleaner carriage axles.

Thus, there exists a need for a vacuum cleaner construction which solvesthe problems and eliminates the difficulties encountered with thedescribed prior cleaner constructions, in an efficient, simple and relatively inexpensive manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Objectives of the invention include providing avacuum cleaner construction for picking up large quantities of debrisfrom outside areas such as lawns, parking lots, parks, etc. and frominside areas such as industrial and commercial work areas, warehouses,shops, etc.; providing a vacuum cleaner construction having a nozzlepivotally mounted on a horizontal axis on a movable carriage, wherebythe nozzle may follow closely the contour of the ground being cleanedappreciably unaffected by the up and down movement of the carriage,

and in which the front of the nozzle is supported by a pair ofadjustable wheels; providing a vacuum cleaner construction having levermeans mounted on the cleaner handle for easy and rapid manipulation byanoperator for readily adjusting the height of the nozzle mouth withrespect to the ground to enable the nozzle to pass over obstacles and topick up large pieces of debris, and in which the lever has a loweroperating position and an intermediate raised operating position inwhich the nozzle and lever will remain until released by the operator;providing a vacuum cleaner construction in which the pivotally mountednozzle can be raised to an upper vertical position whereby debris can befed at the top into the nozzle mouth from a conveyor belt, table or thelike for shredding and collection in the attached refuse bag; providinga vacuum cleaner construction which has its engine mounted on one sideof the cleaner carriage whereby the engine shaft extends horizontallylaterally with respect to the cleaner to facilitate connection of aself-propelled drive unit on the cleaner, and to remove the engine fromimmediate proximity to the collection bag to thereby eliminate largequantities of dust and dirt being drawn into the engine cooling system;providing a vacuum cleaner construction in which large debris drawn intothe nozzle first strikes the rear of the nozzle prior to moving throughthe fan for compacting or shredding and discharge into a collection bag,thereby reducing possible damage to the fan blades, and in whichshredding chains or blades may be mounted in the nozzle for initialcompacting and shredding of the debris before movement of the debrispast the fan blades; providing a vacuum cleaner construction having anauxiliary side nozzle opening for insertion of a hose for cleaning areasinaccessible to the nozzle, which hose can be attached by the simpleremoval of a snap-on cover plate and without installing and removingextra baffles; providing a vacuum cleaner construction in which thedebris is discharged directly from the fan housing into the top portionof the collection bag, eliminating the passage of the discharged debristhrough flexible hose and around tube bends, and eliminating the pushingand lifting of the previously collected debris by the newly dischargeddebris as it enters the bag from the housing; providing a vacuum cleanerconstruction which can be adapted easily for drawbar connection to thefront or rear of a tractor; and providing a vacuum cleaner constructionwhich requires a minimum number of movable parts, thereby reducingconstruction and maintenance costs, which is simple in operation, andwhich solves problems, satisfies needs, and obtains new results in theart.

These objectives and advantages are obtained by the vacuum cleanerconstruction, the general nature of which may be stated as including acarriage; wheels rotatably mounted on the carriage; an annular fanhousing having a tangentially-disposed rear exhaust or discharge openingand a concentric side inlet opening mounted on the carriage; alongitudinally extending nozzle having a lateral inlet mouth and anexhaust end, means pivotally mounting the nozzle exhaust end on the fanhousing for movement of the nozzle vertically about a laterallyextending axis, the nozzle exhaust end being formed with an exhaustopening coinciding with the fan housing side inlet port; fan meansmounted within the fan housing for inducing air flow through the nozzleand fan housing; engine means having a laterally extending drive shaftmounted on the carriage, the drive shaft extending into the fan housingand rotatably mounting the fan means, with the axis of the drive shaftgenerally coinciding with the nozzle pivot axis, wheel means mounted onthe nozzle inlet mouth for roller supporting the mouth above a surfacebeing cleaned; handle means mounted on the rear of the carriage; meansmounted on the carriage and handle means for generally verticallyadjusting the position of the nozzle mouth with respect tothe surfacebeing cleaned; the nozzle adjustment means including roller meanspivotally mounted on the carriage beneath the nozzle, and lever meansmounted on the handle means and connected to the roller means forpivoting the roller means into engagement with the nozzle to pivotallyraise and lower the nozzle mouth; and bag means mounted on the handlemeans and communicating with the fan housing exhaust port for receivingand storing debris collected through the nozzle and discharged from thefan housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Preferred embodiments of the inventionillustrative of the best modes in which applicant has contemplatedapplying the principles are set forth in the following description andshown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed outand set forth in the appended claims.

FIG. I is a perspective view of the improved vacuum cleaner constructionwith the debris collection bag in flated and with the nozzle in thelower operating position;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the improved vacuum cleaner, with portionsbroken away and in section, and with the intermediate nozzle positionshown in solid lines and the lower nozzle position shown in dot-dashlines;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line 3-3, FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the improved vacuum cleanerconstruction, similar to FIG. I, with the trash collection bag deflatedand with the nozzle shown in maximum raised vertical position;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the vacuum cleaner as shown inFIG. 1, with portions broken away and in section, showing the air-flowpath between the nozzle inlet mouth and the debris collection bag;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on line 6-6, FIG.5, showing the fan housing ex haust port;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of the fan housing and nozzledischarge end, showing an auxiliary hose connected to the fan housing;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a modified construction of the fan housingand nozzle discharge end. showing an auxiliary shredding mill mountedwithin the nozzle discharge end;

FIG. 9 is an end elevation of a modified form of the improved vacuumcleaner construction with the collection bag removed, showing aself-propelled operating mechanism mounted on the improved vacuumcleaner;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary side elevation of the selfpropelled vacuumcleaner construction shown in FIG.

FIG. ll is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line ll-ll, FIG. 9,showing the drive sprocket arrangement with the drive chains removed;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 12-42, FIG. 11;and

FIG. 13 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the vacuum cleanerconstruction shown in FIGS. 1-5 having a draw bar mounted thereon andbeing pulled by a tractor.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings,

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment The improvedvacuum cleaner construction is indi cated generally at 1 (FIGS. l5) andincludes as main components a carriage assembly 2, a nozzle 3, a fanhousing 4, an engine 5, a handle assembly 6 and a debris collection bag7.

Carriage assembly 2 has a pair of spaced parallel, longitudinallyextending channels 8, with wheels 9 rotatably mounted on the ends ofchannels 8 for moving cleaner 1 across the ground or a surface to becleaned. A laterally extending channel plate 10 is connected to channels8 by bolts 11, and supports a vertically extending nozzle mountingbracket 12 at one end thereof.

Bracket 12 preferably is a U-shaped channel having a web 13 and sides14, with the upper portion of sides 14 being tapered at 15. The top ofweb 13 is formed in an outwardly extending flange 16 to provide strengthand rigidity to bracket 12. Bracket 12 is attached to plate by suitablefastening means, such as bolts 16a (FIG. 3).

A pair of spaced engine mounting brackets 17 and 18 (FIGS. 3 and 5) isconnected to the end of plate 10 opposite bracket 12, by bolts 19.Brackets l7 and 18 extend vertically upwardly from plate 10 andterminate in top flanges 20. Engine 5 is mounted on flanges 20 by bolts21 which connect engine mounting blocks 22 to flanges 20. Alongitudinally extending reinforcing channel 23 extends between and isbolted at 24 to the bottom portion of engine brackets 17 and 18.

Nozzle 3 includes a flared inlet front mouth 25 formed by top and bottomwalls 26 and 27, end walls 28 and 29, and inwardly tapered side walls30. Nozzle mouth 25 extends forwardly from and is formed integrally witha generally box-like nozzle discharge housing section indicated at 31.Housing 31 forms the nozzle discharge end and includes top and bottomwalls 32 and 33, and side walls 34 and 35, all of which terminate in arounded rear exhaust port 36.

Nozzle mouth 25 forms a rectangular mouth opening 37 (FIG. 4) throughwhich the debris and trash is picked up prior to passing through nozzle3.

A pair of wheels 38 is mounted on nozzle end walls 28 and 29 by usualadjusting mechanisms 39. Mechanisms 39 include fixed verticallyextending notched channels 40 fixed to end walls 28 and 29. Wheels 38are mounted on slide frames 41 which move along channels 40 andselectively engage notches 40a'formed in channels 40. Mechanisms 39permit wheels 38 to be adjusted with respect to nozzle 3 to provideadjustment of the vertical location of nozzle 37 above a surface beingcleaned, with front end 25 of nozzle 3 supported by wheels 38.

A pair of laterally aligned openings 43 and 44 is formed in nozzlehousing side walls 34 and 35 adjacent rear exhaust port 36 (FIG. 3). Apair of outwardly extending annular flanges 45 and 46 are formedintegrally with side walls 34 and 35 around openings 43 and 44. Flange45 extends through an opening 47 formed in web 13 of bracket 12, andflange 46 extends through a pair of openings 48 and 49 in fan housing 4.The telescopic engagement of flanges 45 and 46 in openings 47, andopenings 48 and 49, respectively, forms the pivotal mounting for nozzle3 between bracket 12 and fan housing 4.

Fan housing 4 has a generally cylindrical shape and is formed by anannular outer casing 50 and side walls 50a and 50b. Housing 4 includes atangentiallydisposed air discharge or exhaust port 51 formed with an endopening 52 (FIGS. 1 and 6). Disc-shaped reinforcing plates 53 and 54 arebolted at 55 to sides 50a and 50b of housing 4 for mounting housing 4 oncarriage 2.

Housing plate 53 and sidewall 50a are formed with the aligned openings48 and 49, respectively, through which nozzle flange 46 extends (FIG. 3)for pivotally mounted nozzle 3 to fan housing 4. Housing plate 54 isconnected to carriage channel 23, and is bolted at 57 to engine 5 torigidly mount fan housing 4 on carriage 6 2 and to space housing 4 abovecarriage channel plate 10.

Engine 5 is a usual gasoline engine and is located on one side ofcleaner 1. Engine 5 is mounted on brackets 17 and 18 by bolts 21 and isconnected to fan housing side wall 50b and reinforcing plate 54 by bolts57. The side mounting of engine 5 enables engine shaft 59 to extendhorizontally laterally through wall 50!) and plate 54 into the interiorof fan housing 4.

A multibladed fan 60 is journaled on the end of shaft 59 (FIG. 3) withinhousing 4 to induce vacuum air movement through the fan housing forpicking up debris through nozzle 3 and for discharging the debristhrough housing exhaust port 51. Fan 60 is spaced sufficiently from theperimeter of outer casing 50 to prevent blockage of fan housing 4 bydebris becoming wedged between the ends of the fan blades and casing 50.

A collar 61 is formed at the rear of exhaust port 51 and surroundsexhaust opening 52 (FIG. 6). for attaching collection bag 7'by a strap62. Bag 7 preferably is made of porous canvas material having aplurality of strap tabs 63 to suspend bag 7 from handle assembly 6(FIGS. 1 and 4).

Bag 7 is formed with a large side opening 64, a horizontal exhaustopening 56 and an inlet opening 58. Openings 56 and 58 are formed in thefront wall 7a of bag 7 with exhaust opening 56 being spaced above inletopening 58. Collar 61 extends into inlet opening 58 for connecting fanhousing 4 with bag 7.

'Adisposable plastic liner bag 65 (FIG. 2) formed with a plurality ofperforations 66 may be placed within bag 7 through side opening 64 foreasy storage and removal of the collected debris.

A section of flexible screening material 56a is secured to the innersurface of bag wall 7a surrounding opening 56 to prevent collecteddebris from being discharged through exhaust opening 56 (FIGS. 1 and 2).Opening 56 has a closure zipper 42 which enables the size of opening 56to be regulated.

It has been found that as bag 7 fills with debris, the dust and dirtparticles collected with the debrisfll the porous openings in bag 7reducing the air flow through bag 7. This reduced volume of air passingfrom bag 7 reduces the effective suction at nozzle mouth opening 37,thereby decreasing the efficiency of cleaner 1. Movement of zipper 42regulates the size of opening 56 and provides the volume of exhaustedair necessary to compensate for the filled bag, and to maintain thecleaners efficiency as bag 7 becomes filled.

Zipper 42 will be closed or nearly closed when bag 7 is nearly empty andis moved to increase the size of opening 56 as the bag fills. The sizeof opening '56 and the necessity of manipulating zipper 42 dependslargely upon the type of debris collected in bag 7 and the cleanlinessof the air discharged into bag 7 with the collected debris.

Handle assembly 6 includes a U-shaped tubular frame portion 67 extendingvertically upwardly from carriage 2, and a similar tubular frame portion68 connected to the top of vertical frame 67 and extendinghorizontallyrearwardly therefrom. The bottom ends of tubular portion 67are bent forwardly and extend through slots 69 formed in carriagechannels 8, and are secured to channels 8 by bolts 11 (FIGS. 1, 4 and5).

Horizontal frame 68.is bolted at 70 to vertical frame 67 and includes ahorizontal brace 7 I and diagonal side braces 72.

Vertical studs 73 project upwardly from the corners of horizontal frame68 and extend through grommets 74 in bag tabs 63 to suspend bag 7 fromframe 68.

A usual throttle control lever 75 is mounted on one leg of frame 68 andis connected to engine by a flexible cable 76 for controlling the speedof engine 5.

In accordance with the invention a roller 77 (FIGS. 2, 4 and 5) ispivotally mounted on the front of carriage 2 for remotely, verticallyadjusting nozzle mouth 37 with respect to a surface being cleaned.Roller 77 is rotatably mounted on a pin 78 which extends between theswinging ends of a pair of links 79. The opposite ends of links 79 arerigidly connected to a pivot rod 80 which is joumaled in a pair of tabs81 welded to the front end of channel plate 10.

A control link 82 is welded at 83 to the outer end of rod 80 forrotating rod 80 and links 79. A control rod 84 is pivotally connected atits lower end to the swinging end 85 of link 82 and extends diagonallyupwardly along the side of cleaner I for pivoting lever 82 and rod 80.The top end of control rod 84 is pivotally connected at 86 to a lever 87which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 88. Bracket 88 is bolted at 89to one member of handle frame 68.

Nozzle 3 usually will be in the lower operating position (FIG. I anddot-dash lines, FIG. 2) when cleaner 1 is used for picking up smallparticles of dirt and debris, and when collecting grass clippings,leaves and twigs. In this position, nozzle mouth opening 37 will beclose to the surface being cleaned, thereby providing strong suction aircurrents, and nozzle mouth 25 will be supported by wheels 38. Roller 77extends generally forwardly downwardly from carriage 2 and disengagedfrom supporting mouth 25 of nozzle 3. Control lever 87 normally ispulled rearwardly maintaining roller 77 in its forward downward positionthrough rod 84.

Debris adjacent nozzle mouth opening 37 will be drawn upwardly intonozzle 3 by the fan suction through mouth opening 37 (arrows A, FIG. 5).The debris passes through nozzle discharge section 31 with the heavierdebris continuing rearwardly andcontacting rounded nozzle rear exhaustport 36 (arrows B, FIG. 5), prior to being drawn laterally throughopenings 48 and 49 into fan housing 4 (arrows C, FIG. 5).

The inertia of the heavier debris prevents such debris from being drawndirectly into fan housing 4 before striking nozzle exhaust port 36.Thus, the momentum and impact force of the heavier debris is reducedconsiderably before it contacts fan 60, thereby enabling a high suctionto be maintained atnozzle opening 37 with a minimum of debris impactingon fan 60. The possibility of damage to fan 60 and the forcesencountered by fan 60 are reduced by this change of direction ofmovement of the collected debris and by the collision of the heavierdebris with the nozzle rear end prior to contacting fan 60.

The lighter pieces of debris may pass from nozzle 3 directly into fanhousing 4 without first striking nozzle exhaust port end 36. Suchdebris, however, does not have sufficient momentum or impact to damagefan 60.

The debris contacts revolving fan 60 upon entering housing 4, where itwill be shredded into smaller pieces before being swirled about housing4 by the circulating air currents and discharged through discharge:opening 52 directly into bag 7. Large pieces of debris may be deflectedlaterally, back into nozzle 3 by fan 60 several times until reduced to asmaller size, sufficient to pass between fan 60 and fan housing casing50.

When it is desired to pick up larger pieces of debris. such as papercups, cans, wood, etc, nozzle 3 is raised easily to an intermediatefixed position (as shown in FIG. 1 and in solid lines, FIG. 2) bymanipulation of control lever 87. Lever 87 is pivoted forwardly in aclockwise direction (arrow D. FIG. 2) pulling control rod 84 upwardlyrearwardly and pivoting links 79 and roller 77 in a counterclockwisedirection about pivot rod 80. As roller 77 pivots upwardly it rollsalong bottom wall 33 of nozzle discharge section 31, pivoting nozzle 3upwardly in a counterclockwise direction (arrow E, FIG. 2) on bracket 12and fan housing 4.

Roller links 79 will assume a generally vertical position with roller 77supporting nozzle 3 upon lever 87 reaching its forward position, withlever 87 and roller 77 remaining fixed in such position without anoperator holding the lever.

In this intermediate position, the weight of nozzle 3 will be supportedlargely by roller 77 and links 79, with the position of nozzle mouth 25being affected more directly by the movement of carriage 2 over theground than when nozzle 3 is in the lower position and supported bynozzle wheels 38.

Nozzle 3 is returned to its lower operating position rapidly andconveniently by pulling lever 87 rearwardly to release it from itsforward fixed position. Roller 77 then is forced downwardly by controlrod 84 and control link 82, lowering nozzle 3 until wheels 38 againsupport nozzle mouth 25.

Manual movement of lever 87 between the front and rear fixed positionsfor raising and lowering nozzle 3, enables nozzle 3 to be quickly andconveniently adjusted according to ground condition. For example, shouldan obstacle be encountered when nozzle 3 is in the lower position, lever87 is pushed forwardly only that distance needed to temporarily raisenozzle 3, to enable the nozzle to pass over the obstacle. After passingover the obstacle pressure can be released from lever 87 and the weightof nozzle 3 is sufficient to return nozzle 3 and lever 87 to theirformer positions with nozzle mouth 25 being supported by wheels 38.

Thus, cleaner I need not be moved around small obstacles during use, nordoes the nozzle have to be set to a fixed vertically adjusted positionto enable the nozzle to pass over such objects, thereby reducing theeffective suction as heretofore occurred with prior cleanerconstructions.

Another important feature of cleaner 1, in accordance with theinvention, is the ability to manually pivot. nozzle 3 to a vertical orupper position (FIG. 4) with nozzle mouth 25 opening upwardly forreceiving debris deposited therein from the top. Cleaner I can be movedon wheels 9 to a debris collection location, such as at the end of aconveyor or adjacent a work site, for shredding and storing debrisdeposited manually or automatically in nozzle 3 through mouth opening37.

Nozzle 3 preferably is moved just past true vertical position so thatthe center of gravity of nozzle 3 will tend to pivot nozzle 3 in acounterclockwise position, retaining nozzle 3 in a generally verticalposition resting against handle frame 68, eliminating the need foradditional positioning and retaining members. Cleaner 1, thus has theadvantage of a usual mobile vacuum cleaner, plus the features of astationaryshredder and refuse collector.

Noule 3, due to its pivotal mounting on fan housing 4 and carriagebracket 12, is movable manually vertically between a lower operatingposition (FIG. 1) and a generally vertical upper position (FIG. 4),about an imaginary laterally extending axis 90 (FIGS. 1 and 4).Likewise, nozzle 3 is movable between the lower position and anintermediate position (FIG. 2) by lever means mounted on the cleanerhandle assembly 6.

A downwardly curved, arcuate deflector 91 (FIG. 6) is bolted at 92 tocollar 61 and deflects the debris discharged through exhaust opening 52downwardly into bag 7 and against the previously collected debris.Deflector 91 prevents the possibility of a piece of debris traveling ata high velocity from piercing bag 7 and injuring an operator walkingbehind cleaner 1.

The particular arrangement of nozzle 3 and fan housing 4 enables cleaner1 to be adapted easily for cleaning places inaccessible to nozzle 3 byinsertion ofa flexible hose 94 in nozzle auxiliary opening 43 (FIG. 7).

A plastic disc 93 is slip-fitted within annular flange 45 to close sidenozzle opening 43 when nozzle 3 is used for usual cleaning operation.Disc 93 can be removed easily enabling hose 94 to be quickly inserted inopening 43 to provide a remote source of suction at the movable end ofhose 94.

The attachment end of hose 94 is formed with a cylindrical metal sleeve95 having a diameter equal to that of openings 43 and 44, and a lengthgreater than the lateral distance between nozzle side walls 34 and 35 atopenings 43 and 44. Sleeve 95 is inserted through openings 43 and 44 andfrictionally held therein, terminating within annular flanges 45 and 46.Sleeve 95 forms an air passage between fan housing 4 and hose 94 andeffectively seals the nozzle air passage through mouth 37 to thesurrounding atmosphere.

No baffles, sealing plates or other components need be disconnected orconnected to nozzle 3 by bolts, clips, etc. to divert the air flowthrough hose 94, heretofore required with prior cleaners. The simpleremoval of disc 93 frictionally held within flange 45 is all that isrequired before insertion of hose sleeve 95. Likewise, the position ofnozzle 3 need not be changed since hose sleeve 95 engages within nozzleopenings 43 and 44 regardless of the pivotal position of nozzle 3.Second Embodiment It is desirable for certain cleaning applicationswhere large pieces of debris may be collected, to install additionalshredding means within nozzle 3 to reduce the size of the debris beforethe debris strikes fan 60 (FIG. 8). A shaft extension 96 is connected toengine shaft 59 by a coupling 97 and extends laterally through fanhousing openings 48 and 49 and nozzle openings 44 and 43.

Shaft extension 96 preferably has a squared portion and the outer shaftend is joumaled in a bearing 98 which is bolted at 99 to a plate 100which covers auxiliary nozzle side opening 43 and includes an outerannular flange 101 which is bolted at 102 to the nozzle annular flange45.

A plurality of chains 103 are mounted at spaced intervals along shaftextension 96. Chains 103 shred and break into smaller particles alllarge debris entering nozzle 3. Shaft extension 96 passes through thecenter links of chains 103 to form the chain mounting. Spacers 104 arelocated between adjacent chains 103. thus, no

bolts or other means project from shaft extension 96 to which debris cancling and/or build up.

Chains 103 may be replaced with knife blades, metal rods and the likefor particular cleaning applications. For example, knife blades may beused when only small branches, twigs, vegetation and soft items may beencountered.

Third Embodiment A modified form of the improved vacuum cleanerconstruction is indicated at 105 (FIGS. 9-12) and is similar to cleaner1 except a self-propelled driving mechanism is incorporated therein. Thedriving mechanism may be incorporated in cleaner 105 readily and withfew components because of the horizontal lateral position of drive shaft59.

The drive mechanism preferably is chain driven using a sprocket 106(FIGS. 9 and 12) mounted on shaft 59 between engine 5 and fan housing 4.A second sprocket 107 is mounted below sprocket 106 on the inner end ofa stub shaft 108 parallel with shaft 59. Shaft 108 is journalled in apair of bearings 109 and 110 (FIG. 11) which are bolted to a pair ofchannel brackets 111 and 112, respectively. Channel bracket 112 iswelded to carriage base plate 10, and channel bracket 11] is welded tobase plate 10 and reinforcing channel 23.

A third sprocket 113 is mounted on the outer end of stub shaft 108 andis aligned with an intermediate idler sprocket 114 and a fourth drivesprocket 115. A continuous drive chain 116 extends vertically betweenand engages sprockets 106 and 107, and a similar continuous drive chain117 extends longitudinally with respect to carriage 2 between and indriving engagement with sprockets 113 and 115.

Idler sprocket 114 is joumaled in a bearing 118 welded to bracket 119.Bracket 119 is adjustably mounted on engine mounting bracket 17 by bolts120 which extend through slots 121 formed in bracket 17. Idler sprocket114 is mounted below the level of sprockets 113 and 115 and is movableinto engagement with chain 117 to tension chain 117.

Sprocket 115 is mounted on a drive shaft 122 which extends horizontallylaterally across the rear of carriage 2 and is located above rearcarriage wheels 9. Shaft 122 is joumaled in a pair of spaced bearings123 which are pivotally mounted on channels 124 by pins 125 (FIG. 11).Channels 124 are welded to nozzle bracket side wall 14 and to enginebracket 17.

Levers 126 are welded to pins 125 and extend vertically upwardlytherefrom (FIG. 10) on both sides of cleaner 105. Springs 127 areconnected between levers 126 and engine 5 and carriage bracket 12,biasing levers 126 and drive shaft 122 in a counterclockwise directionabout pins 125.

Sleeves 128 are mounted on each end of drive shaft 122 for frictionallyengaging rear wheels 9 to transmit the driving torque from engine shaft59 to wheels 9. Bands 129 of frictional material, such as rubber, covershaft sleeves 128 to reduce slippage between wheels 9 and shaft 122.

Control rods 130 extend from the upper ends of levers 126 to a driveactuating bar 131 mounted on handle frame portion 68 by brackets 132.

The self-propelling drive mechanism is actuated by the operator pivotingbar 131 upwardly (arrow F, FIG. 10) to move control rods 130 upwardlyrearwardly, as indicated by dot-dash lines, FIG. 10. Levers 126 pivot ina clockwise direction moving drive shaft 122 downwardly until sleeves128 contact wheels 9. The greater the pressure applied to bar 131, thegreater is the force applied to rear wheels 9 by drive shaft 122resulting in faster speeds for moving cleaner 105 across the surfacebeing cleaned.

Springs 127 bias levers 126 counterclockwise moving drive shaft 122 outof engagement with wheels 9, automatically upon release of pressure frombar 131.

The parallel alignment of drive shaft 122 with engine shaft 59 permitsthe use of drive chains extending directly between engine shaft 59 anddrive shaft 122. Prior cleaner constructions having fan shafts extendinghorizontally longitudinally or vertically with respect to the cleanercarriage require additional parts. since a change in direction isrequired between the chain sprockets. Drive sprockets 106, 107, 113 and115 are aligned and are parallel with each other, as best seen in F I65.11 and 12 permitting such direct chain connection between engine shaft59 and drive shaft 122.

Flexible belts are used to achieve such direction change in priormachines. Belts, however, do not provide the positive drive and powertransmission, as do continuous drive chain and sprocket assemblies.Thus, the use of drive chains achieves maximum machine power driveefficiency.

Fourth Embodiment A further modification of the improved vacuum cleanerconstruction is indicated generally at 135 (FIG. 13), in which thecleaner is pulled by a tractor 136. Cleaner 1 can be adapted easily to atowed cleaner 135 pulled behind a usual garden tractor 136 by a drawbarassembly 137.

Drawbar assembly 137 includes two rearwardly extending tubular members138 which are bent inwardly at their rear ends where they are joinedtogether by bolts 139. An attachment bar 140 having a clevis 141 issecured between the joined rear ends of members 138 by the bolts 139.Clevis 141 is connected to a usual rear hitch bar 142 of tractor 136 bypin 143.

The front ends of tubular members 138 are connected to carriage channels8 by clamps 144. Rear carriage wheels 9 preferably are removed fromcarriage 2 and the cleaner 135 is supported by front wheels 9 andtractor hitch bar 142. Nozzle mouth 25 is supported by nozzle wheels 38enabling mouth opening 37 to retain its location with respect to thesurface being cleaned without being appreciably affected by the movementof tractor 136 and front carriage wheels 9 over uneven ground.

The tractor operator may adjust nozzle 3 between its lower andintermediate operating positions by movement of lever 87 positioned justbehind the operator, in the same manner as when the operator is walkingbehind the cleaner.

A drawbar attachment similar to tubular members 138 may be attached tocarriage 2 and extending forwardly therefrom for pulling cleaner 1forwardly in its usual operating direction. The front carriage wheels 9preferably'are removed to permit connection of members 138. Nozzle 3 maybe secured in the upper vertical position, as shown in FIG. 4, and hose94 inserted in auxiliary nozzle opening 43.

Nose 94 extends forwardly and is attached to a usual discharge chutemounted on the tractor. The cut grass, leaves, etc. discharged from thetractor cutter or rake are pulled through hose 94 by the suction createdby fan 60 and pass through fan housing 4 into bag 7.

Thus, cleaner 1 can be adapted easily for attachment to a tractor forpicking up debris through nozzle 3 or for receiving and gathering debrisdischarged from the tractor discharge chute.

IN GENERAL In each of the embodiments of the invention illustrated inthe drawings and described above. the cleaner nozzle is pivotallymounted at its exhaust end to the fan housing with the nozzle mouthsupported on wheels separate from the carriage so that the nozzle mouth*floats" over rough terrain appreciably unaffected by the up and downmovement of the carriage. The nozzle mouth can be raised and lowered topass over obstacles and to pick up trash of various sizes by a leverlocated remote from the nozzle at the operators station. The nozzle alsocan be raised to an upper vertical position to receive trash depositeddirectly into the upturned nozzle mouth.

Accordingly, the improved vacuum cleaner construction provides apivotally mounted nozzle, movable vertically about a laterally extendingaxis enabling the location of the nozzle mouth from the surface beingcleaned to be readily adjusted; provides a cleaner construction having anozzle, the extended from inlet end of which is supported on wheelsseparate from the main carriage wheels; provides a cleaner constructionin which the heavier collected debris contacts the rear exhaust port ofthe nozzle lessening its momentum and impact force before the debrispasses into the fan housing and contacts the revolving fan; provides acleaner construction in which the engine shaft extends horizontallylaterally with respect to the cleaner nozzle and carriage enabling aself-propelling mechanism to be incorporated into the cleaner with fewerparts than heretofore required; providing a cleaner construction inwhich shredding and pulverizing chains or bars may be mounted within thenozzle exhaust port, and in which an auxiliary hose can be connected tothe cleaner for cleaning areas inaccessible to the nozzle mouth; andprovides structures and arrangements which are very simplified, whicheliminate difficulties existing in the art, and which achieve the statedobjectives and solve problems that have existed in the art.

In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity,clearness and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to beimplied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art. because suchterms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be braodlyconstrued.

Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way ofexample, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exactdetails shown or described.

Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of theinvention, the manner in which the vacuum cleaner construction isconstructed an used, the characteristics of the new construction, andthe advantageous, new and useful results obtained; the new and usefulstructures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations,are set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Vacuum cleaner construction including a carriage; handle meansmounted on the carriage; wheels rotatably mounted on the carriage formovement of the carriage across a surface to be cleaned; a nozzleextending longitudinally with respect to the carriage and having alaterally extending inlet mouth at one end and an exhaust port at theother end; means mounting the nozzle exhaust port onthe carriage forpivotal movement of the nozzle vertically about a laterally extendingaxis; a fan housing communicating with the nozzle exhaust port; inletand exhaust openings formed in the fan housing; the fan housing having agenerally cylindrical shape with inner and outer laterally spaced sidewalls and a tangentially-disposed air exhaust port, said exhaust portextending longitudinally rearwardly from the fan housing and terminatingin and forming the fan housing exhaust opening, and said fan housinginlet opening being formed in the inner fan housing side wallconcentrically with respect to the laterally extending pivotal axis;means communicating with the fan housing exhaust opening for receivingand storing debris discharged from the fan housing exhaust opening; fanmeans mounted within the fan housing for developing an air flow throughthe nozzle and fan housing and into the debris collection means; enginemeans drivingly connected to the fan means; and wheel means mounted onthe nozzle supporting said nozzle mouth above a surface being cleaned.

3. The construction defined in claim 2 in which downwardly extendingarcuate deflector means is mounted on the fan housing air exhaust port,and in which said deflector extends through the bag inlet opening anddeflects debris discharged through the fan housing air exhaust portdownwardly toward the bottom of the bag.

4. The construction defined in claim 2 in which a disposable plasticliner is located within the cloth bag, in which the liner is formed witha plurality of perforations to permit air flow through the bag, and inwhich the fan housing air exhaust port communicates with the liner fordischarging debris from the fan housing into the liner.

5. The construction defined in claim 2 in which an air exhaust openingis formed in the upper portion of the bag, in which means are mounted onthe bag and communicate with the bag air exhaust opening to regulate theamount of air escaping from the bag through said opening, and in which ascreen covers the bag air exhaust opening permitting the passage of airthrough said opening and preventing the passage of debris through saidopening.

6. Vacuum cleaner construction including a carriage housingcommunicating with the nozzle exhaust port;

the fan housing including a pair of laterally spaced inner and outerside walls; inlet and exhaust openings formed in the fan housing; saidfan housing inlet opening being circular and formed in the fan housinginner side wall laterally horizontally aligned with the carriage bracketopening; the nozzle exhaust port pivotal mounting means including a pairof outwardly extending annular flanges formed on the nozzle exhaust portinner and outer side walls, said outer side wall flange extendingthrough the carriage bracket opening and said inner side wall flangeextending through the fan housing inlet opening; means communicatingwith the fan housing exhaust opening for receiving and storing debrisdischarged from the fan housing exhaust opening; fan means mountedwithin the fan housing for developing an air flow through the nozzle andfan housing and into the debris collection means; engine means drivinglyconnected to the fan means; and wheel means mounted on the nozzlesupporting said nozzle mouth above a surface being cleaned.

7. The construction defined in claim 6 in which the v inner nozzleflange surrounds a nozzle exhaust opening formed in the nozzle innerwall.

8. The construction defined in claim 7 in which the outer nozzle flangesurrounds an auxiliary opening formed in the nozzle outer wall, and inwhich cover means seals said auxiliary opening to the atmosphere whenthe air flow enters through the nozzle mouth.

9. The construction defined in claim 6 in which the engine means includea shaft, said shaft extending horizontally laterally with respect to thecarriage, in which the engine shaft extends through an opening formed inthe fan housing outer wall and connects to the fan means, and in whichthe axis of the engine shaft is laterally aligned with the fan housinginlet opening and with the nozzle exhaust opening.

10. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the nozzle includes abox-like section extending longitudinally between the nozzle mouth andthe nozzle exhaust port, in which the nozzle mouth includes flared topand bottom walls and laterally spaced end walls, said walls forming alaterally extending nozzle mouth opening, and in which the nozzle mouthsupport wheel means includes wheels mounted on the laterally spaced endwalls.

1. Vacuum cleaner construction including a carriage; handle meansmounted on the carriage; wheels rotatably mounted on the carriage formovement of the carriage across a surface to be cleaned; a nozzleextending longitudinally with respect to the carriage and having alaterally extending inlet mouth at one end and an exhaust port at theother end; means mounting the nozzle exhaust port on the carriage forpivotal movement of the nozzle vertically about a laterally extendingaxis; a fan housing communicating with the nozzle exhaust port; inletand exhaust openings formed in the fan housing; the fan housing having agenerally cylindrical shape with inner and outer laterally spaced sidewalls and a tangentially-disposed air exhaust port, said exhaust portextending longitudinally rearwardly from the fan housing and terminatingin and forming the fan housing exhaust opening, and said fan housinginlet opening being formed in the inner fan housing side wallconcentrically with respect to the laterally extending pivotal axis;means communicating with the fan housing exhaust opening for receivingand storing debris discharged from the fan housing exhaust opening; fanmeans mounted within the fan housing for developing an air flow throughthe nozzle and fan housing and into the debris collection means; enginemeans drivingly connected to the fan means; and wheel means mounted onthe nozzle supporting said nozzle mouth above a surface being cleaned.2. The construction defined in claim 1 in which the debris collectionmeans includes a porous cloth bag formed with an inlet opening in theupper portion thereof, in which clamp means releasably connects the bagto the air exhaust port, and in which the fan housing exhaust openingcommunicates directly with the bag inlet opening, whereby the debrisdischarged from the fan housing enters directly into the bag in ageneral straight-line path from the fan housing air exhaust port.
 3. Theconstruction defined in claim 2 in which downwardly extending arcuatedeflector means is mounted on the fan housing air exhaust port, and inwhich said deflector extends through the bag inlet opening and deflectsdebris discharged through the fan housing air exhaust port downwardlytoward the bottom of the bag.
 4. The construction dEfined in claim 2 inwhich a disposable plastic liner is located within the cloth bag, inwhich the liner is formed with a plurality of perforations to permit airflow through the bag, and in which the fan housing air exhaust portcommunicates with the liner for discharging debris from the fan housinginto the liner.
 5. The construction defined in claim 2 in which an airexhaust opening is formed in the upper portion of the bag, in whichmeans are mounted on the bag and communicate with the bag air exhaustopening to regulate the amount of air escaping from the bag through saidopening, and in which a screen covers the bag air exhaust openingpermitting the passage of air through said opening and preventing thepassage of debris through said opening.
 6. Vacuum cleaner constructionincluding a carriage having a vertically extending bracket formed with acircular top opening; handle means mounted on the carriage; wheelsrotatably mounted on the carriage for movement of the carriage across asurface to be cleaned; a nozzle extending longitudinally with respect tothe carriage and having a laterally extending inlet mouth at one end andan exhaust port at the other end; said nozzle exhaust port havinglaterally spaced inner and outer side walls; means mounting the nozzleexhaust port on the carriage for pivotal movement of the nozzlevertically about a laterally extending axis; a fan housing communicatingwith the nozzle exhaust port; the fan housing including a pair oflaterally spaced inner and outer side walls; inlet and exhaust openingsformed in the fan housing; said fan housing inlet opening being circularand formed in the fan housing inner side wall laterally horizontallyaligned with the carriage bracket opening; the nozzle exhaust portpivotal mounting means including a pair of outwardly extending annularflanges formed on the nozzle exhaust port inner and outer side walls,said outer side wall flange extending through the carriage bracketopening and said inner side wall flange extending through the fanhousing inlet opening; means communicating with the fan housing exhaustopening for receiving and storing debris discharged from the fan housingexhaust opening; fan means mounted within the fan housing for developingan air flow through the nozzle and fan housing and into the debriscollection means; engine means drivingly connected to the fan means; andwheel means mounted on the nozzle supporting said nozzle mouth above asurface being cleaned.
 7. The construction defined in claim 6 in whichthe inner nozzle flange surrounds a nozzle exhaust opening formed in thenozzle inner wall.
 8. The construction defined in claim 7 in which theouter nozzle flange surrounds an auxiliary opening formed in the nozzleouter wall, and in which cover means seals said auxiliary opening to theatmosphere when the air flow enters through the nozzle mouth.
 9. Theconstruction defined in claim 6 in which the engine means include ashaft, said shaft extending horizontally laterally with respect to thecarriage, in which the engine shaft extends through an opening formed inthe fan housing outer wall and connects to the fan means, and in whichthe axis of the engine shaft is laterally aligned with the fan housinginlet opening and with the nozzle exhaust opening.
 10. The constructiondefined in claim 1 in which the nozzle includes a box-like sectionextending longitudinally between the nozzle mouth and the nozzle exhaustport, in which the nozzle mouth includes flared top and bottom walls andlaterally spaced end walls, said walls forming a laterally extendingnozzle mouth opening, and in which the nozzle mouth support wheel meansincludes wheels mounted on the laterally spaced end walls.